$15.99, 50lb Purina layer pellets 16% protein
17.99, 50lb Purina flock raiser, 20% protein
14.99, 50lb scratch
I supplement with:
CLEAN scraps from local produce stand, they won't 'save' stuff for me - I consume far too little, they let me have whatever I can get before the pig farmer gets there. I never take anything ikky, only things I would eat myself! They especially like broccoli, green beans, and mushrooms.
once a week or so buy them a head of cabbage, dice up about 1/3 ea day for 3 days. If I put any larger pieces they just use it for bedding.
whatever items the local food bank gives me that is not palatable but clean. I don't know where they get some of these brands / items, maybe taste
differs across the country. It does no good to pull it from my sack and give it back to them it just starts an argument. besides, feeding my chickens provides me with eggs - which the food bank does not give out. Oh, one thing I 'donate' to the chickens regularly is canned yams (unsweetened), I love 'em but they give me WAY more than I can eat. I mash 'em up in a bowl then stir in oatmeal until it's not sloppy anymore.
On a side note: I do not feed my chickens quantities of white flour (bread/loaves/buns/rolls/cake/doughnuts), that is just empty calories taking the place of wholesome food in their diet. I didn't let my kids eat those and I don't let my animals eat 'em either. Also, no fats or sweets: no bacon drippings, no chicken fat off the top of the soup. No pie/cake/sweet rolls/desserts, etc. I know some folks will disagree, that's fine. You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Table scraps: I seldom have any but I take out to them only the most beneficial parts: no gravy, no desserts, there actually isn't much in my kitchen that they can't have.
Egg shells: I keep an institutional size empty can on the stovetop and throw the eggshells in. They usually dry quickly, then I bake them in the oven when I'm baking something else (makes them easier to crumble). I crush them with my hands into a pile in one corner of the run. Free, clean, digestible calcium.
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